The North Carolina attorney general is suing a pharmaceutical company for deceptive and unfair business practices. Insys Therapeutics makes a strong opioid drug called Subsys which Stein says is significantly stronger than morphine and heroin. It is intended for cancer patients who need pain relief. But Stein says according to his investigation the company was trying to get doctors and insurers to prescribe it for non-approved uses.

“According to our investigation Insys undertook an aggressive law breaking sales campaign to increase the number of patients who would use the drug and increase their profits,” said Stein.

Similar cases were filed against Insys in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Arizona. Stein has been active in pursuing pharmaceutical companies for deceptive opioid marketing. The Centers for Disease Control reported a decline in life expectancy as opioid overdose deaths hit a record high in 2016. Insys did not immediately return requests for comment.